Volunteer Services Manager - Pet Therapy Program

Pet Therapy Program Manager

Location Detail: 79 Jefferson St HH Bliss Wing (10064)

Shift Detail: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with flexibility needed for some evenings and weekends.

Work where every moment matters.

Every day, more than 40,000 Hartford HealthCare employees come to work with one thing in common: Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here. We invite you to become part of Connecticut's most comprehensive healthcare network.

Hartford Hospital is one of the largest and most respected teaching hospitals New England. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center that provides cutting edge treatment to its patients. This is made possible by being home to the largest robotic surgery center in the Northeast and the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI), one of the most-advanced medical simulation training centers in the world. When hospitals cannot provide the advanced care, expertise and new treatment options their patients require, they turn to us.

Job Summary:

The Pet Therapy Program Manager provides leadership in integrating pet therapy into patient, family, and staff support at Hartford Hospital. This role oversees all aspects of the program, including volunteer management, program development, and quality improvement. The manager advocates for the therapeutic impact of the human–animal bond and ensures the program operates safely, effectively, and in alignment with hospital standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage daily program operations, including volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, and mentoring

• Maintain accurate volunteer and animal records in compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards

• Assess and monitor animal behavior to ensure ongoing safety and suitability

• Develop marketing and outreach strategies to engage staff, patients, and community partners

• Build and strengthen relationships with national pet therapy organizations (e.g., Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Intermountain Therapy Animals)

• Partner with hospital departments to expand programming across sites, including the Cancer Centers, Institute of Living, Grace S. Webb School, and extended-care facilities

• Support patient, family, and staff requests for visits; coordinate regular schedules and special requests

• Design and implement volunteer recognition and retention initiatives

• Oversee pet therapy simulations and Hartford Hospital's internal pet therapy registration process

• Collect and report program outcomes, using data and feedback to guide continuous improvement

• Contribute to research and professional activities that advance animal-assisted interventions

***This is a 2 year grant funded position***

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in psychology, animal behavior, health, or related field (required)
• Bachelor's degree in psychology, animal behavior, health, or related field (preferred)
• Experience & Skills
• Minimum 2 years' experience in volunteer management or related human relations role
• Strong animal handling and behavior assessment skills (required)
• Experience with therapy dog programs and animal-assisted interventions (preferred)
• Background as a pet therapy volunteer (preferred)
• Experience in healthcare settings (preferred)
• Professional certifications preferred: Professional Dog Trainer experience such as Karen Pryor academy certification, CATCH trainer or Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC)
• Pet Therapy Certifier experience
• Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) or equivalent

We take great care of careers.

With locations around the state, Hartford HealthCare offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. Here, you are part of an organization on the cutting edge – helping to bring new technologies, breakthrough treatments and community education to countless men, women and children. We know that a thriving organization starts with thriving employees-- we provide a competitive benefits program designed to ensure work/life balance. Every moment matters. And this is your moment.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action employer, the organization will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.